Basil Julep
Muddled fresh herbs and fruity Irish whiskey lighten up the beloved Kentucky drink.
- Makes
4 cocktails
- Time
5 minutes
Walk up to most bars and order a julep, and you’ll find yourself facing a glass of bourbon, muddled mint, and sugar: the classic mint julep. But to the cocktail purist, “julep” doesn’t mean mint. It’s a type of drink, one in which any spirit (not just bourbon) is mixed with any herb or spice (not just mint) and any sweetening element (not just sugar). With that definition in mind, we decided to start riffing. Of course, there’s a reason the mint julep is the most famous version of the drink—it’s a perfectly balanced beverage—so we took it as our starting point.
The first stop was the herb: we swapped out the mint for its cousin, basil, which has some similar notes, but whose aromatic sweetness and clean flavor completely transforms the drink. To emphasize the punched-up herbal element, we turned to Irish whiskey in lieu of the traditional bourbon. In Irish whiskey, we found a subtle citrus note that intermingled beautifully with the basil and added to the drink’s summery feel. With a splash of simple syrup for sweetness, we poured it over crushed ice to serve—this is a strong drink, and it mellows as the ice melts.
Ingredients
- 2 oz. simple syrup
- 8 large basil leaves, plus 4 sprigs for garnish
- 6 oz. Irish whiskey
Instructions
Step 1
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the simple syrup and basil leaves. Add the whiskey and stir briskly once or twice. Fill four highball glasses with crushed ice. Strain equal portions of the drink over the ice. Garnish with the basil sprigs.
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